Pakistan has proposed to India restoration of full diplomatic strength at each other's mission in New Delhi and Islamabad.

"Pakistan formally made this proposal on May 6, October 29 and on November 23 this year as well as on several other occasions," the Pakistan foreign office said in a statement on Friday.

Before December 2001, when ties were snapped, the strength of the two missions was 110 each.

"Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, while announcing confidence building measures on November 23, had proposed that the staff strength of the two high commissions should be fully restored to make the missions effective," it said.

The statement said the acceptance of this proposal by India had become all the more urgent because of the agreement on restoration of air links between the two countries from January 1, 2004, and in anticipation of the resumption of the Samjhauta Express train service.

"Restoration of the full staff strength of the high commissions will facilitate speedy processing and grant of visas to nationals of the two countries who intend to travel by air, road or railway," it said.